Tag Archives: caribbean cruises

Empress of the Seas to sail short cruises from Miami

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Royal Caribbean International said the Empress of the Seas will offer short cruises out of Miami, beginning in March.

The 1,600-passenger ship, built in 1990 as the Nordic Empress, is returning to Royal Caribbean from Pullmantur as part of a fleet reduction of the Spanish cruise line. Pullmantur and Royal Caribbean are sister lines.

Royal Caribbean said the Empress will offer four- and five-night cruises to Nassau, Bahamas; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; Grand Cayman; and Key West, Fla.

The ship will stay late in the evening at many destinations, and will overnight in Cozumel on select cruises.

Royal Caribbean currently offers short cruises to the Bahamas from Miami on the Majesty of the Seas.

MSC Seaside bookings open

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The MSC Seaside is scheduled to sail its maiden voyage in December 2017.

MSC Cruises said it has begun accepting bookings from repeat customers for MSC Seaside, a new ship that will be based in Miami.

Guests who are members of MSC’s Voyager Club will get their standard 5% discount, plus a bonus Classic drink package applicable to first and second guest in a stateroom. Bookings for the general public open Dec. 29 with the same drinks package offer.

The 4,100-passenger ship is expected to sail week-long Caribbean cruises; its first cruise is scheduled to leave Dec. 21, 2017. Prices start at $589 per person, MSC said.

Seaside will feature a unique 360-degree ocean level promenade on Deck 8 that will include indoor/outdoor shops and restaurants, as well as a buffet area and a pool, which are traditionally located on a cruise ship’s higher decks.

Norwegian Cruise Line toughens cancellation terms

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Norwegian Escape, Getaway, and Breakaway.
Norwegian Cruise Line announced new terms for canceling booked cruises that will require earlier decisions about backing out of trips and impose higher penalties on cancellations.

The changes, which take effect on bookings made after Jan. 1, are complex. But on one common product, the cruise or cruise tour of 7 days or longer, the least costly cancellation will require forfeit of 25% of the cruise fare for bookings cancelled 76 to 89 days from sailing.

The current policy is loss of deposit for bookings cancelled 56 to 75 days before sailing.

Cancellations 60 to 75 days out come with a 50% penalty, those from 31-60 days a 75% penalty and within 30 days, 100% penalty.

The current schedule penalizes cancellations from 29 to 55 days out at 50%, and those from 15 to 28 days at 75%.  Currently, when guests cancel within 14 days of sailing, they lose their full fare.

Standard deposits will be $100 per person on cruises of two to six days, $250 on cruises seven to nine days and $400 on voyages 10 days or longer.

Final payment will be due 75 days from sailings of two to six days and 90 days on longer voyages. Holiday sailings will require final payment 120 days from sailing, except for the Norwegian Sky.